Baseball | 3A final in focus: LaSalle-Peru still mum about reasons for letting coach go

Mike Helfgot

A loud chorus of boos followed the announcement of LaSalle-Peru superintendent Steven Wrobleski's name during the Class 3A awards ceremony Saturday afternoon at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.

Bill Booker will not coach LaSalle-Peru again following the Cavaliers' 10-2 loss to Marian Catholic in the state championship game.

Booker, a 20-year veteran with 375 career victories, four sectional titles and a fourth-place finish in 3A in 2009, was not renewed as coach at a school board meeting May 16.

The Cavaliers won their next 10 games following the decision, and were on a 16-game winning streak before the state final.

The board never made a public statement explaining its decision.

"I'm not going to (comment) other than what we've already reported, that the board and administration has made a decision to go in a different direction," Wrobleski said. "It is an emotional time right now. Probably the most important thing for me right is that the emphasis is put on the kids.

"We had a huge second-place victory and we need to be proud of that."

Booker declined to comment on whether anyone has had a direct conversation with him explaining the decision, saying only that "old-school coaches are a dying breed in some school systems."

According to the News Tribune, Booker was suspended for the team's supersectional for violating an Illinois High School Association by-law after he had a former player throw batting practice.

His son, senior catcher and No. 3 hitter Cody Booker, said nobody has offered his family a reason.

Bill Booker, who remains employed as a teacher at L-P, sounded as if he'd like to continue to coach.

"I'm going to give it a shot and see what's out there," he said. "My family is the most important thing to me. My oldest son is going to college, my two daughters are in high school and my youngest son is going into eighth grade.